Balancing machine



' April 16, l1929.

w. E. rRuMPLER ET AL BALANCING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet April 16, 1929 w. ETRUMPLE'R e1' AL y 1,709,694

I BALANCING IACHINE l I Filed may 27. 192e v s sheets-sheet y2 INVENTORS Carl Richard oderberg and Will/'3m E. Pump/er.

April le 1929 w. E. TRuMPLr-:R ET AL 1,709,694

' BALANCING MACHINE A Filed May 27, 192s s sheets-sheet 5 j wnunnumnn Patented Apr.. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 'PAINT o-FFICE.

WILLIAM E. TEUMPLEE, 0E WILKINSBIIEG, A'Nn CARI. E. soDEEBEEG, or. EnGEWooD, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIaNonsfTo wEsTINGHoUsE ELECTRIC a MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A coRroEA'rIoN 0E PENNSYLVANIA.

BALANCING IIIAGIIINJh Application filed May 27, 1926. Serial No. 111,922.

Our invention relatesto balancing ma:v chines, more .particularly to apparatus for testin the dynamic unbalance of rotors and the li ie. i

It is among the objects of our invention to rovide .a counterbalancing mechanism for alancing machines which shall provide simple and eflicient means for ascertaining the nature and amount of the unbalanced masses in rotors, with a minimum amount of regulation of the balancing'apparatus, thus making the balancin operation of rotors commercially practicab e without increasing the cost of their manufacture.

Another` object of our invention is to provide' a counterbalancing mechanism which shall be adapted to-provide very fine adjust! ments of thecounterbalancing Weights, so as to produce extremely accurate results in the balancing of rotors.

Another object of ourinvention is to prof vide relays for adjusting the phase relation of parts in a balancing machine vWhile it is rot-ating, Without disturbing the oscillating bed member.

Another-object ,of our invention is to rovide a counterbalancing mechanism for alancing machines of the above-desi nated character which shall be of compact anr durable mechanical construction and which shall comprise aaniuimum number ot' operating parts, said parts being designed to eliminate excessive Wear or the probability of destruction thereof.

In the copendin application of W. E. Trumpler Serial o. 725,352,y ltiled July 11, 1924, is described counterbalancing mechanism for balancing machines which embodies magnetic relays for controlling the adjusting and regulating mechanism that changes the [relative position of the counterbalancing weights with respect to the .parasite or unbal anced mass in 'the rotor being tested.

The object to -be accomplished with -sueh a device is to eliminate all of the manual control members from the operating rtion of the machine, that is, the parts constituting the portion of the oscillating bed member upon which the test member is mounted. Y

Our present invention is directed to an improved orm of rela for regulating the counterbalance mechanism, which is more positive in its operation of regulating the relative disposition of the counterbalanced weights' `and more easily operated, thusjelim'inating the loss of time that has been incurred in the adjustment of such weights in devices of the vprior art.

vof movable Weights that are adjustable to effect a couple in opposition to the dynamic couple that is produced-by theunbalanced masses in. the rotor being tested. In our present device, we utilize toothed gearing for securing more positive regulationV of thc Weights. y

The Weight-regulating mechanism comprises disks provided With gear` teeth 'on their outer periphery, and pinions for engaging the disks. yMagnetic means are used for coupling the pinions to a flexible .element that providesfor slight angular deflections between them, to make the torque transmitted more nearly uniform. The magnetic coupling also provides for slippage between the pinions to relieve excessive stresses and prevent break age of the gear teeth or other damage vto the sensitive machine elements.

In the accompanying drawings, constitutsov ing a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts,

Fig. 1 1s a v1eW in long1tudinal section of a counterbalancing mechanism embodyingH the principles of our invention,

Fig, 2 1s aiview, partially 1n transverse section and partially in end elevation, of the Referring to Fig. 1, the structure therein illustrated comprises a cylindrical housing or l casing 1 that is-provided with end brackets 2 for rotatably journalling a hollow. spindle 8 that is carried by a plurahty of anti-friction bearings 4, which are secured in the brackets 2 bv end caps 5. A shaft 6, having a restrlcted body ortion 7, is disposed Within the hollow spind e 3 and is secured to one end thereof by a spline connection 8.

A hand-Wheel 9 the shaft 6 and a chucking memberl@ on its is secured on one end of troinagnets 32 gear teeth 111 on their outer peripheries, are

respectively secured/to and journalled on the sleeve member 11. The disk 12 1s secured against a shoulder of the sleeve 11 by a ring nut 15 whichf interacts with anauxiliary threaded portion 16 of the. member 11. An eccentric Weight 17, having an internally threaded portion complementary to the main thread on the screw sleeve member 11, is mounted thereon and adapted to cooperate with the main threaded portion of the sleeve 11 to provide. 4t'or displacement of the weight 17 in an axial direction'.

A pair of abutting flanged disks 18 and 19, also provided with gearl teeth 111, are respectively secured to and joui-nailed on the hollow spindle 3, and a counterbalance weight 20 is secured on the disc 19 in opposition to the weight 17 that is operative on the sleeve member 11. The weights 17 and 20 are oppositely positioned, as shownin Fig. 3, and are maintained in angular 'spaced relation under all operating conditions. The llanged disks 13 and 19 are maintained in spaced lrelation by` a plurality ot'- bolts 21, which extend. through 'openings provided in the counter-weight 17. A spring, member 22 acts against a Washen2-`thatmaintains pressure 1n an axial direction against theserew sleeve 11, thus providing t'rictional engage-v ment between the disks 12 and 13 and the disks 18 and 19, respectively.r Rcctangularly shaped housings 24 are secured to the casing 1 for supporting creeping relays 25 and`26 that engage the disks 12 and113 and creeping relays 27 and 23 that engage the disks 18 and 19, tor ell'ecting phase displacement therebetween.

"lhe creeping relays 25,26, 27 and 28,v comprise pinions 29 and 31 that engage the toothed peripheries 14 of the disks and elector so coupling the pinions 29 and 31 that they rotate at the same speed.

' The mafuiets 32 are )rovidcd with )ole-neces at their opposite ends that carry /small vshafts 34 on which are mounted the pinions 29 and 31 and icxible couplings 35. Each shaft 34 is provided with a 1".estrictcd,bodyl portion` to reduce the magnetic path and to.

provide a space for the acci-unulation.of lubr'i- The flexible couplings 35 comprise non-magnetic sleeves provided with conical end portions.

The pinions non-metallic material, such las niicart-a, and are provided with soft' steel bushings 36 having tapered internal bores complementary to the conical end portions of the flexible couplings 35.

29 and 31 are preferably of` Air. gaps 37 are provided between the bushings 36? when they are journallcd in operating position on the lexible couplingr 35, and air gaps 38 ot' much larger crossrsec- '.tional area exist between the bushings 36 and the pole-pieces 33, the air gaps 37 being'preferably shorter than the air ygaps y Whenonell of the magnets 32 is energized, flux traverses a path from the pole pieces through the'air gaps l31S to the bushings 36 and through the air gap v37. On account ot' the greatly restricted area oi the intermediate air gap 37 the magnetic pull betweenthe twoJ bushings 36 is lar greater than between the bushings 36 and the pole-pieces 33. The magnetic pull-forces the bushings 36/against the conical end portions ot the coupling 35 ainl-.prmluces vl'rictional engagement therewith, thereby coupling the bushings 36 and the-pinions 29 and .31 together. r1`hc couplings 35 are made torsionally flexible by reducing Vthe diameter of certainl portions for the purpose of equalizing the. slight irregularities resulting trom the tooth engagement between tlle gear teeth' 14 and the pinions 29 'y and 31.

J.Phe magnets 32 are provided with terminals 39 which are electrically'connected by leads 41 to an electric power circuit tor ener-v gizing theinagnet coils. c By.` the control o1- the electromagnets that is 'etl'ected by vtheenergization and deencrgization ot the coils, the magnetic lux across the gap 37 between the pinionniembcrs 29 and 31 is regulated.

flhe pin-ions 29 and 31 are of the same diameter, but pinion 31 embodies one tooth more nthan pinion `29, to provide diti'erent gear ratios between the pinions and disks with which they cooperate). Accordingly, for the same speed of the pinion members-29 and 31,. there will be a difference in the speed ot' the cooperating' disk members 12 and/13, or 13 and 19-to the extent ot' one tooth advance or retardation, thus ell'ecting a relative angular motion of the disks comprising each pair. f

As long as the magnets 32 are decnergized, the pinions 29 and 31 have a relative rotative motion vbecause of the difference in tooth ratios ot' the discs and pinions, and in this con-l dition there is no creepzige or angular movement between the respective disk members.

The pinion 3l ot relay 25' engages the disk 12, and the pinion 2S) of the saine relay ei'igages the ldisk 13. lVhen the magnet 32is energized and the pinions 29 and 31 are 'coupled to rotate at the' same speed, the relay 25 causes the disk 12.150 rotate faster than the diskf13. In the relay 26, the pinion 31 yengages the disk 13 and the pinion 29 engages the disk- 12 and when the relay is energized, it causes the diskf12 to rotate slower than the disk 13. -lt istherefore, possible to eltect an angular dfspl'acement between the disks. 12 and 13 in either direction while they are rotatinfr.

The relays 27 and 28, in cooperation with lll) the gear teeth 14 of the disks 18 and 19,4 likewisesserve to effect an angular displacement in either 'direction between said disks.

The operation of the balancing unit is 'briefly as follows; The disks 13 and 19 and counterweights 17 and. 20 are rotated with l the lshaft 6, with which they are engaged, and

the hollow spindle 3. The spindle 3 is concoupling the two pinions to rotate as a unit.

f thread of the sleevel member iiected vto,I the rotor to be tested, which is actuated yby a belt drive or otherwise from a suitable motor or other driving device. The disks 12 and 18 rotate' at the saine speed because of their frictional engagement with the disks 13 and 19, respectively, which is effected by the axial pressure 'supplied .by the spring action of the elements 22 against their respective engaging faces, and the pinion members 29 and 31 are rotated through l. 1 their gear-teeth engagement with the aforementioned disks.

By operating relay-27 or 28 aphase dis-` placement may be effected between disks 18' and 19 in either direction and, therefore, the angular position of the pair of counterweights 17 and 20 with respect to the spindle 3 may be varied. By operating the relays 25 and 26 and effecting displacement between the disks,12 and 13, the threaded member 11 is caused to interact with theweight 17 and thereby effect an axial displacement thereof with respect to the weight 20, thereby establishing a dynamic couple that maybe ad-Y justed to oppose the couple `established by the unbalanced mass in the rotor to which the shaft member 6 is connected. rlhe direction and amount of axial movement of the weight 17 is varied by operatingV either one of the relays 25 and 26, since the tooth ratios of the disks and pinions are arranged to provide creepage between the disks in opposite directions, so that the weight 17 may traverse the 11 in either di'- rection, as shown in Fig. l. i

The pinion members4 shown in Fig. 4 opferate in identically the saine manner as those shown in Figs. l and 2, the only difference being in their construction. The flexible inemrber, instead of being constituted by the sleeve 35, which was internally located, is replaced by a cage member 42, which isa cylinder having a number of'slots in its` mid portion and conical ends 43'for engaging complementary depressions 44 in the pin- 4ions 29 and 31. Nonmagnetic washers 45 are inserted between the bushings 36 and. the

vpole-pieces 33 to maintainthe proper minimum air gap.l Magnetic force between the bushings 36 at the air gap. 37 tends to draw the pinions together and sets up a frictional resistance between theA depressions 44 and the conical ends 43 of the cage 42, thereby By virtue of therslotted construction of the cage 42, a certain amount of iexibility is introduced between the pinions to absorb shocks caused by virregular tooth forms or otherv causes. y f

'It is evident from the .foregoing description of our invention that a counterbalancing Iniechanism made in accordance therewith p provides an eliicient and positive means for regulating the' balancing weights to efficiently balance rotors being tested, and that 'such afdevice, although positive in its opleration, will permit of vhigh-speed manipulation of the regulating!mechanism without the clashing of gear-wheels and without subgect.-

ying the more delicate operating parts to any severe strain or wear. Y

Although we have described a specific embodiment vof our invent-ion, 'it will -be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be madein they-.details of consoy struction and in the arrangement and size' ofthe several cooperating parts without departing from the principles herein set forth. We claim as our invention:

1. VIn a couiiter-balance mechanism, a vay riable couple comprising a plurality of movable weights, gear-wheels associated with said' weights, meansv foriotating said gearwheels and weights, and magnetic means for effecting relative rotary movement of said gear-wheels to displace said weights.

2. In a counter-balance mechanism, a vari` i able 'couple comprising a pair of movable Weights, gear-wheels associated with said Weights, means for rotating said gear-wheels f and weights, and magnetic means for' effectino relative rotary movement of said gearw ieels to vary said,cou1'ile.`

In a counter-balance mechanisi'n, a variable con'ple comprising a pair ,of movable weights, gear-wheels associated with. said weights, means for rotating said gear-wheels and weights, and magnetic means for etfect icov ing relative rotary movement of said gearlteeth mounted on saidshafti counter-weights operatively connected to said disks, gearwheels engaging said disks, means for rotat`. y

y ing said disks andgear-wheels simultaneously, and ineansfor providing relative rotative movement of said disks and gear-wheels.

6. A counter-balance mechanism comprising adhollow shaft, a spindle disposed therein I and engaged thereby at one end thereof, a pluralityofl friction disks provided with gear mg said disks and gear-wheels simultaneously to provide rotatory movement of said weights, and means for providing relative rotative movement'of said disks and gear- Wheels to provide radial displacement of said weights.

7 In a counter-balance mechanism, a variable couple comprisinga pair'of movable weights, gear-Wheels associated with said weights, means for rotating said gear-wheels and weights, and magnetic means f'or effecting relative rotary movement of said gearwlleels to displace said weights, said magnetic means col'nprising magnet coils, polepieces thcrefor,-and a yieldable mounting for some of the gear-wheels, the iuX from said magnetic means serving to couple the gear wheels so mounted.

8. Ina counter-balance mechanism, avariahle couple comprising a pair of movablel weights, gear-wheels associated with said Weights, means for rotating said gear-wheels and-weights, and magnetic means for effecting relative rotary movement of said gearwheels to .displace said weights, said magnetic meansv comprising a plurality of cupshape sleeves mounted uponI a complementary shaped lion-magnetic support, a pair of pinion.membersprovided with an air-gap therebetween mounted on said sleeves, polepieces associated with said sleeves, and magnetvcoils forfsetting up a magnetic flux through said Sleeves and across said gap to effect a yielding couple between said pinion members.

9. In a counter-balance mechanism, anvariable couple comprising a plurality of movable weights, gear-wheels associated with said Weights, means for rotating said gearwheels and weights, pinions-engaging said gear-wheels and a clutch disposed to couple said Vpinions for eecting relative v'rotary movement'of said gear-wheels to displace said weights.

10. In a counter-balance mechanism, bal-w ancing weights, gear-wheels associated with said weights, pinions engaging said gearwheels, and magnetic means for coupling said pinions. f

l1. In a machine for balancing a rotor, balancing weights for balancing an oscillating system, vgear-wheels associated with said balancing weights and said rotor, pinions engaging the' gear-Wheels and' a clutch disposed to couple said pinions for varying the phase relation between the balancing weights and said rotor.

12. In a device for effecting phase displacement; disks having toothed peripheries, means for providing frictional engagement between 'said disks,I pinions engaging the toothed peripheries of said disks at dierent ratios, and magnetic means for coupling said pinions to provide creepage between said disks.

13. In a device for effecting phase displacement, gear-wheels having equal numbers of teeth, pinions having differingnumbers of teeth for engaging the gear-wheels, and magnetic means for coupling the pinions.

14. In a device for effecting phase displacement between two elements of a rotatable mechanism, friction means for coupling the elements to rotate in synchronism, a gear wheel'on each of theelements, said gear wheels having equal numbers of teeth, pin- K ions having unequal numbers of teeth in engagement with the gear wheels and means for coupling the pinions to cause them to Arotate as a unit.

15. `A device for effecting phase displacement between elements of a'machine while the elements are rotating that comprises gear wheels having equal numbers of teeth mounted on each element, pinions having unequal numbers of teeth disposed to engage the gear wheels and magnetic means for locking the pinions to rotate as a unit'.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto,

subscribed our names this 18th day of May,

. WILLIAM n. TRUMPLER.

CARL R. s oDERBEnG. 

